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US rights body urges new Marriage law review

Robert F. Kennedy Centre for Justice and Human Rights has called for an amendment of the new marriage law that stigmatise and violate the rights of  lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.

During President Peter Mutharika’s visit to Washington D.C. this week, the rights body also called on United States Government to ensure a consistent US foreign policy that guarantees swift and meaningful responses to human rights abuses of LGBTI people abroad.

Assented to Marriage Act: Mutharika
Assented to Marriage Act: Mutharika

In   a statement released on April 20, president of the organisation, Kerry Kennedy, said the homophobic provisions in an otherwise important law diminish both its credibility and significance.

Reads the statement in part: “It is utterly unacceptable that landmark legislation to prevent child marriage and increase gender equality in Malawi simultaneously entrenches discrimination towards LGBTI people. The homophobic provisions in an otherwise important law diminish both the credibility and significance of what should have been a positive step forward for Malawi.”

The Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act (Marriage Act) became law last week after Mutharika assented to it.

According to Kennedy, his organisation is against the fact that the law allows divorce to be based on “unnatural offences”—a reference to Malawi’s anti-sodomy law inherited from the British colonial penal code that violates international law, saying, “It also prevents transgender people from being recognised by the State in their chosen genders and outlaws same-sex unions.”

Briefly, the Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations law, among others, addresses the issue of child marriages in Malawi, as it raises the age of marriage to 18.

It also defines relationships between men and women and suggests redress where either party feels aggrieved. n

 

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2 Comments

  1. This centre must focus on issues involving LGBTI people in the USA not Malawi. I am pretty sure that they have enough already out there. Also remember that Malawi’s is a sovereign state and cannot (and must not) be influenced by holier than holy bodies such as this one. Would Malawi be allowed to meddle in the laws of the USA? And there are many that have flaws for that matter. So, stop meddling.

  2. Mr kennedy..Your home land of your father, Newross, wexford ireland now they are going into refrendum on LGBT…This is so because Irish they have their own culture so as malawi. In our culture its not allowed to be gay or lesbian. and that shall remain in this country…..the truth is …its against Gods law to have sex with your fellow man or woman …. So dont tell us what to do on this….we dont hate gays but its not allowed in this country thats it…. STOP TELLING US WHAT TO DO IN OUR OWN HOME LAND

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